Do you appreciate traditional holiday films played on the big screen? Do you find the allure of black and white motion pictures appealing? This special movie screening is just the feature you should immerse yourself in this weekend!

It’s a Wonderful Life will be presented by the Lincoln Theatre located at 712 S 1st St in picturesque downtown Mount Vernon, WAÂ on Saturday, December 22nd at 6:30pm, admission to this time-honored movie is free.

This movie is a classic holiday favorite featuring George, who makes a wish that he had never been born, until an angel makes his wish a reality and George starts to understand how he has impacted the lives of others and how they wouldnâ€™t be the same if he wasnâ€™t a part of their lives.

Are you craving a unique twist for the holidays? Do you enjoy something offbeat this time of year? This local Fidalgo Island performance may be just the unconventional happening to appease your desire.

Noel Noir is a Christmas hilarity intertwined with winter charisma and edgy conversation, abounding in enigmatical bewilderments. This program will keep you hypothesizing and entertained with messages of giving and compassion.

Noel Noir will be held on Saturday, December 22nd from 7:30 to 9:30pm at the Anacortes Community Theatre located at 918 M Ave in Anacortes, WA. All seats are $20 each.

#1 – Less CompetitionNumerous home sellers think that spring may be the best time to put your home on the market for sale due to buyer demand traditionally increasing during the warmer months. If every seller is thinking the same thing, then the spring months potentially bring more competition for your home sale. A great reason to list your home now is there is less competition, thus giving your home more exposure.

#2 – Serious BuyersDuring these colder months only buyers who are serious about purchasing a home are searching for one. This combined with less inventory could potentially help your home sell faster and for the best price.

#3 – Lower Interest RatesThere are still fabulously low interest rates available right now. Rates are expected to go up in 2019 making now an excellent time to sell your home as buyers can take advantage of the lower rates now. Also, VA loan limits have increased in Skagit County, making larger zero down loans available to buyers, in turn helping you sell your home quicker.

#4 – Job RelocationsMost companies tend to relocate employees during the first quarter of the year, meaning possibly more potential serious buyers for your home. Some companies offer moving credits as well, helping home buyers get into their new home quicker so they can get back to work. Talk to your broker about how to market to such companies.

#5 – Utilize a BrokerOf course, the absolute best tip for selling your home during the winter, or anytime, is to use the services of a dedicated real estate broker. If you are contemplating whether or not to buy or sell and want to inquire about the market conditions in our area please donâ€™t hesitate to contact Jean Groesbeck and Associates LLC at info@jeangroesbeck.com or 360-941-3734. Let us show you how 5-star real estate services can help you sell your home!

You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, Iâ€™m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming toâ€¦ Burlington! You can visit with Firefighter Santa on Friday, December 7th from 12-9pm and Sunday, December 9th from 12-7pm.

This local Skagit County free event will be at the Bay Ridge Station located at 16220 Peterson Rd in splendid Burlington, WA. This local Burlington event is hosted by Skagit County Fire District 6. Bring the family and your camera, you wonâ€™t want to miss your photo op with Santa. They will also be serving up some delicious cookies and hot apple cider.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, weâ€™re happy tonight, walking in a Winter Wonderland! The Childrenâ€™s Museum of Skagit County is hosting a Winter Wonderland on Friday, December 7th from 12-8pm, Saturday December 8th from 10am-8pm, and Sunday, December 9th from 11am-5pm at The Outlet Shoppes located at 550 Cascade Mall Dr in charming Burlington, WA.

This free, annual, local Burlington event will feature numerous childrenâ€™s activities such as real snow, bouncy inflatables, carnival games, crafts, face painting, and so much more! There will also be an elf and reindeer on site to meet, local food trucks to eat at, plus $5 gift shopping and wrapping for children and $10 Macyâ€™s gift cards to the 1st 400 people.

Would you like to be local to Burlington, so you can enjoy free local Skagit County events year-round? Click here to start your Skagit County home search today!

Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are thyâ€¦ crab pots! The local, annual Anacortes Christmas Tree Lighting event will take place on Friday, December 7th from 5:15-7:15pm at the Chamber of Commerce located at 819 Commercial Ave in brilliant downtown Anacortes, WA.

Are you in awe with the beauty of Anacortes and dream of relocating to this waterfront town? Click here to view properties available in Anacortes and initiate finding your new home.

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right before the boat parade! Visit with the jolly man himself on Saturday, December 8th from 5-6pm at Gilkey Square located at 103 Morris St in the seaside town of La Conner, WA.

You may not be able to catch the gingerbread man, but you can take home a gingerbread house on Saturday, December 8th or Sunday, December 9th from 1-4pm at the Quaker Cove Retreat located at 14694 Gibralter Rd in captivating Anacortes, WA.

The Gingerbread House Party is a local, Skagit County family event. For only $5 you can decorate a homemade gingerbread house with candy and icing included. While you decorate you can enjoy some complimentary hot chocolate or apple cider, fresh popcorn, and more!

Celebrate the season at the Port of Anacortes Event Center located at 100 Commercial Ave in lovely downtown Anacortes, WA on Saturday, December 8th or Sunday, December 9th from 12-4pm.

The free, annual, local, Family Holiday Fair will feature local entertainment, games, crafts, gingerbread house decorating, and of course, hot chocolate. Be sure to stop and visit Santa Claus who will be accompanied by the Grinch, donâ€™t forget your camera! This is a hometown holiday experience that you wonâ€™t want to miss.

We have some absolutely wonderful news that we would like to share with you!Â VA loan limits have increased in Skagit CountyÂ from $453,100 to $484,350. This increase not only benefitsÂ buyers, butÂ sellers as well.Â Since there are now larger VA loans with zero down available helping sellers sell their homes.

Plus, there are some fabulous low interest rates still available, depending on the loan product and the borrower’s credit and income. Interest rates are presumed to go up in 2019, so now is a great time to purchase a home, why wait? This is an excellent time to contact a lender and start shopping for a home!

Each year around this time there are numerous sellersÂ who make the decision to postpone listing their house until after the holidays, while other sellers who already have their house listed make a decision to temporarily take the listing off the market during the holidays.

Here are 7 great reasons NOT to delay!

1. Buyers are still relocating. A great number of companies are hiring through the holiday season and are requiring new employees to start their new positions without delay.

Deception Pass Bridge, a National Historic Monument since 1982, is actually two spans that link Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island (Anacortes) over Canoe Pass and Deception Pass. The bridge is one of the scenic wonders and destinations of the Pacific Northwest.

With a population of nearly 72,000 people, Whidbey Island is the largest island in Washington State, sitting between Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula. Whidbey is home to the cities and towns of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Langley, Freeland, Greenbank, Clinton, and Bayview; all of which fit snugly intoÂ Island County.

Oak Harbor is Whidbey Islandâ€™s largest incorporated city and home toÂ Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Named for the Garry Oak trees which grace its skyline, the cityâ€™s growth coincided with two major events: the building of Deception Pass Bridge on July 31, 1935, and the completion of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on September 21, 1942.

Whidbey Islandâ€™s popularity stems from the amazing views of Puget Sound and the plethora of tourist activities available. Explore the waters of Puget Sound on a scuba diving adventure, glide across the sea in silence on a kayak trip to visit the orca and gray whales, sea lions and seals, starfish and crab, and eagles and the porpoises!

For thousands of years, the only people who occupied Whidbey Island were the four Pacific Northwest Indian Tribes. In the spring of 1792, Captain George Vancouver explored the area and named every mountain, island, and waterway he could find. Whidbey Island was named on June 10, 1792 after Joseph Whidbey who proved it was an island when he discovered Deception Pass.

Aside from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, the island has a strong military history. In 1890, the construction ofÂ Fort CaseyÂ began. The three-fort defense system was built by the US Army to protect the entrance to Puget Sound. Along with this fort, Fort Flagler and Fort Worden, which are located on the Olympic Peninsula, make up the â€śTriangle of Fire.â€ť Twenty years after Fort Casey was built, it became the fourth largest military post and was no doubt the most beautiful. Fort Casey is open to the public, allowing visitors to climb on the ladders to inspect the guns, walk along bluff-side bunkers, and through the dark tunnels of the past.

Many real estate deals are dependent on a home inspection, so it is common that inspections cause a lot of anxiety for a buyer.Â Here are some of the top myths surrounding home inspections that may help buyers adjust their expectations:

Having a license ensures a good home inspection â€“ NOT TRUE

Not all states require home inspectors to be licensed, so make sure to check on the requirements in your state, in addition to other components of the inspectorâ€™s credentials, such as past clients, years of experience and customer reviews.

You can use a home inspection to identify problems that might be used as a tool to negotiate purchase price – NOT SO TRUE

While this is not the primary objective of a home inspection and the inspector is an unbiased, third party opinion, they inform buyers and sellers with an understanding of the physical condition of the home so the best decision can be made.

A home inspection tells you what your home is worth â€“ NOT TRUE

An appraisal is intended to do this, not an inspection.

All home inspection certifications and professional education are created equal – NOT TRUE

Some programs are online certifications only without ever stepping into a home to conduct a real inspection.Â The best certification offers both in-class and hands-on training, in addition to exam requirements.

Home inspections are not needed for newly built homes or condos â€“ NOT TRUE

No home is perfectly built and its best to have an inspector pinpoint potential issues or future repairs.Â Most inspectors can also give inspections during each construction â€śphaseâ€ť of the property during development.

Home inspections are solely used on the buyerâ€™s side â€“ NOT TRUE

Although most inspections are performed for buyers, there are many advantages to a pre-listing inspection for sellers â€“ including knowing about major issues before the house is listed for sale, which increases negotiating power to get the best sale price.

AnacortesÂ has the enviable reputation as the playground of the Pacific Northwest. Despite its miles of waterfront and forested trails, mountaintop vistas, festivals, charming shops and restaurants, a welcoming community and easy access to adventure beyond,Â AnacortesÂ remains one of the countryâ€™s best-kept secrets.

Anacortes lies equidistant between Seattle, Washington, to the south, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to the northâ€”each about 80 miles away. Located on Fidalgo Island, Anacortes hosts theÂ Washington State FerriesÂ terminal, making it easy to get away for an afternoon or an extended stay to theÂ San Juan IslandsÂ or Victoria, B.C. Â Although Anacortes boasts all the assets of an island community, residents enjoy the ease and convenience of being connected to the mainland and neighboringÂ Whidbey IslandÂ by three picturesque bridgesâ€”including the famed Deception Pass Bridge.

Natural attractions include pristine lakes, world class waterways, great scenic vistas, tide pools and beaches, abundant wildlife, and more than 2,800 acres of public forestland. There are also seven local marinas making Anacortes the boating capital of the Pacific Northwest.Â Many Anacortes home buyers are first attracted to Anacortes because of the natural beauty of Fidalgo Island, and as they spend more time here they decide they want to purchase Anacortes real estate and make Anacortes their home.

Local culture can be found at Anacortes art galleries, language clubs, numerous daily music venues, a three-screen movie theatre, delightful restaurants, and more.

Several major events mark Fidalgo Island communityâ€™s annual activities calendar: Waterfront Festival (May), Fourth of July Parade (July), Anacortes Arts Festival (August), Jazz Festival (September), and the Holiday Boat Parade (December). Each, in its own way, reminds us that, while very much connected to the present, Anacortes remains an appealing connection to a slower, simpler way of living.

Licensed under Coldwell Banker Bain,Â Jean Groesbeck & Assoc. LLCÂ knows Anacortes! Contact us today for more information and for all of your real estate needs. We can be reached daily at (360) 941-3734 or atÂ Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com.

Not necessarily planning to move in 2018 but need to change things up? Here are some ways you can make your home feel a little bit newer and easy to maintain:

Make an extra mortgage payment â€“ If you want to own your home faster and save money in the process, make just one extra mortgage payment each year and youâ€™ll shave years off the term of your loan and save thousands of dollars in interest.

Refinance your mortgage â€“ Even though interest rates vary, sometimes refinancing may be in your best interest to lower your monthly payment.

Draft a home maintenance plan â€“ To ensure your house gets the love it deserves, draw up a list of the annual maintenance chores your home requires then come up with a plan to handle one or two each month.

Make your home safe â€“ Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test their batteries regularly, in addition to checking your home for radon (a colorless and odorless gas) and be sure your home has proper ventilation.

Clear the clutter â€“ Overwhelmed with all the stuff in your home? Getting organized and donating items you no longer use will go a long way in giving you and your home a fresh start in the new year.

Planning to sell in 2018? Here are some things to prepare you for getting your home ready to list:

Get a home inspection â€“ Many buyers who make an offer will get a home inspection to determine the condition of your house, and then use that knowledge to negotiate pre-close repairs or a lower price.Â Be proactive and get your own inspection so you can remove or address issues that may be obstacles to selling your house.

Appeal to mobile and online buyers â€“ Most home searches today begin online.Â Hire an internet-savvy broker, like Team Groesbeck, to ensure your listing is optimized for web viewing and mobile apps.Â Jean Groesbeck & Assoc. LLC will also ensure professional photos and marketing will get your home noticed.

Make a good first impression â€“ Fix things around the house that donâ€™t work, touch up paint, update landscaping, depersonalize, deep clean, and consider hiring a stager.Â Team Groesbeck even offers staging services to our clients to give your home a professional touch!

Be realistic â€“ Educate yourself about your local real estate market and have realistic expectations of your homeâ€™s worth.Â Your broker will price your home accordingly based on this information as well as comparable properties.

Treat your home like an investment â€“ Be sure you are ready to sell before you list your home.Â Moving can be a sentimental and emotional journey, so be prepared for potential buyers to look at your home and make an offer!